Taste among the Romans) that the Introduction of the Polite Arts of Greece had given the Writers of his Time great advantages over their Predecessors; that their Morals were much improved, and the Licence of those ancient Poets restrained: that Satire and Comedy were become more just and useful; that whatever extravagancies were left on the Stage, were owing to the Ill Taste of the Nobility; that Poets, under due Regulations, were in many respects useful to the State, and concludes, that it was upon them the Emperor himself must depend, for his Fame with Pofterity.

We may farther learn from this Epistle, that Horace made his Court to this Great Prince by writing with a decent Freedom toward him, with a just Contempt of his low Flatterers, and with a manly Regard to his own Character. P.

1

Tha

HE Reflections of Horace, and t' past in his Epistle to Augustus, feer able to the present Times, that I could no ing them to the use of my own Country thought them considerable enough to addre Prince; whom he paints with all the great a lities of a Monarch, upon whom the Rom for the Encrease of an Absolute Empire. Bu Poem entirely English, I was willing to ad of those which contribute to the Happir People, and are more confiftent with the W Neighbours.

This Epistle will shew the learned World len into Two mistakes: one, that Augustus of Poets in general; whereas he not only pr but the Best Writers to name him, but re that Care even to the Civil Magiftrate: Adm tores, ne paterentur Nomen fuum obfolefieri, etc. that this Piece was only a general Discourse whereas it was an Apology for the Poets, in ord Augustus more their Patron. Horace here plea of his Cotemporaries, first against the Taste ( whose humour it was to magnify the Author ceding Age; fecondly against the Court a who encouraged only the Writers for the Ti lastly against the Emperor himfelf, who ha them of little Ufe to the Government. He View of the Progress of Learning, and th

EPISTOLA I.

C

Ad AUGUSTUM.

UM tota fuftineas et tanta negotia folus, Res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes, Legibus emendes; in publica commoda peccem, Si longo fermone morer tua tempora, Caefar. • Romulus, et Liber pater, et cum Castore Pollux, Post ingentia facta, Deorum in templa recepti, Dum terras hominumque colunt genus, aspera bella Componunt, agros adfignant, oppida condunt; * Ploravere suis non refpondere favorem Speratum meritis. diram qui contudit Hydram, Notaque fatali portenta labore fubegit, Comperit invidiam fupremo fine domari.

NOTES.

Book ii. Epift. 1.]) The Poet always rises with his original; and very often, without. This whole Imitation is extremely noble and fublime.

VER. 7. Edward and Henry, etc.] Romulus, et Liber

retc.

he

Horace very judiciously praises Augustus for the co. founded, not for the victories he had won; and therefore com

EPISTLE I.

To AUGUSTUS.

WHile you, great Patron of Mankind! * sustain

The balanc'd World, and open all the Main;

6

Your Country, chief, in Arms abroad defend,
At home, with Morals, Arts, and Laws amend;
How shall the Muse, from such a Monarch, steal
An hour, and not defraud the Public Weal?
• Edward and Henry, now the Boaft of Fame,
And virtuous Alfred, a more d sacred Name,
After a Life of gen'rous Toils endur'd,
The Gaul fubdu'd, or Property fecur'd,
Ambition humbled, mighty Cities storm'd,
Or Laws establish'd, and the world reform'd;
• Clos'd their long Glories with a figh, to find
Th' unwilling Gratitude of base mankind!
All human Virtue, to its latest breath,

f Finas Envy never conquer'd, but by Death.

NOTES.

IO

15

pares him, not to those who defolated, but to those who civilized mankind. The imitation wants this grace: and, for a very obvious reason, should not have aimed at it, as he has done

the mention of Alfred.

sinch 13. Clos'd their long Glories with a figh,] The expreffion extremely beautiful; and the ploravere judiciously placed. VER. 16. Finds envy never conquer'd, etc.] It hath been the VOL. IV.

L